Rooney looks to pivotal week

06 March 2009 12:31

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has identified the week ahead as being vital to the club's hopes of a clean sweep of trophies.

United clinched the Carling Cup last weekend to add to their Club World Cup title, and have the chance to move into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the last eight of the UEFA Champions League and take a possible ten-point lead in the title race - all within the space of just seven days.

Defeat in any of these games would be severely damaging to the club's ambitions, but Rooney insists that if all goes to plan, this period could well provide the springboard for an unprecedented trophy haul.

"We've got the FA Cup Saturday, Champions League Wednesday and Liverpool Saturday, so it's a massive week for us. We just have to make sure we prepare for these games and then hopefully we'll do okay," the England international told the Daily Express.

"There are still 11 games to go and a lot can happen in those games, but obviously we are in a good position at the moment.

"We have to make sure we stay focused until the end of the season and be professional. If we can do that then hopefully we will be able to win the title."

Keeper backingUnited had been enjoying a record-breaking run of clean sheets during their rise to the top of the table, but after conceding to Blackburn, the vulnerability of the defence was well and truly exposed with Edwin van der Sar's howler against Newcastle.

The keeper has since apologised to his team-mates for the error, but Rooney is loath to lay any blame at the feet of a keeper who has performed so outstandingly this season.

"These things happen and Edwin knows he messed up for the goal, but there have been times this season and before when he has won games for us on his own," Rooney added.

"Edwin will be fine because he is big enough to move on from it. He will be okay."